Shipping container for printed matter



Juhe 16, 1964 A. GROSSKOPF 3,137,386

SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR PRINTED MATTER Filed Dec. 7, 1961 Jnvenzar:

ALFRED GROSSKOPF ATTORNEYS SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR PRINTED MATTER Alfred Grosskopf, Scherzerpl. 30, Furth, Bavaria, Germany j Filed Dec. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 157,751, Claims priority, application Germany June 30, 1961 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-45 .31)

This invention relates generally to Shipping containers for printed matter, but has reference more particularly to containers of the type used for mailingperiodicals, catalogs, prospectuses, and the like. a

In the shipping or mailing of heavy mail order catalogs, it is necessary that the catalogs reach the customers in perfect, undamaged condition; so that the, customer is pleased by the clean, fresh condition of the exterior of the catalog and is induced to purchase the'arti'cles offered.

The postal service-has made special provisions for the mailing of catalogs and other heavy printed matter. Cartons of paper or harder materials, as presently used for such mailing, are not able to withstand the mechanical strains which occur in the handing of the cartons through many hands. Moreover, the wrapping material-must be printed and stamped. Any kind of writing equipment, such as ball-point pens, lead pencil and colored pencil must give good legible writing. Preferably, the color tone of such a wrapper is to be chosen as light as possible, for example, beige or white. It also may be colored otherwise, so as to distinguish the shipment of catalogs clearly from other goods.

Another pecularity in mailing catalogs is that there are attached preferably to each catalog order forms, reply letters, etc., on which the complete address of the customer is marked. These addresses should be so attached to the wrapped catalog that they can be read easily by the mail carrier on his rounds, thus making possible a reliable delivery.

It is proposed, in accordance with the present invention, and for the purpose of fulfilling such requirements which differ in their nature, that the container for the shipment or mailing of printed matter, catalogs, prospectuses and other material, be prepared of plastie film. Polyethylene or cellophane is especially suitable for this purpose, but films of polyvinyl chloride, styrene or polyvinyl alcohol are also suitable. Films of this kind are, however, not at all suitable, according to the postal specifications hereinabove referred to, because most of them cannot be stamped or written upon. In order to give the films the desired surface quality for this purpose, the film, in accordance with the invention, must be coated or stained with a coating material, which may be white or of any other desired color tone. Instead of being coated with such a coating material, the film may have incorporated therein a filler or filling agent which produees the desired surface quality for the above purpose. In the case of a coating, the application must be just thick enough so that the printed matter to be wrapped shows through the wrapper in its outlines but not so that its printing can be read. In the case of a filler,the quantity of filler used must be likewise controlled, so that the printed matter to be wrapped shows through the wrapper in its outlines but not so that its printing can be read.

The preferred procedure is such that in covering the film with the coating material, certain areas are left uncoated, and these areas may be framed. Thus the film is left transparent in these areas, so that labels provided with addresses, previously enclosed with the printed matter, are perfectly legible. Thus it is possible that all the order forms, delivery labels, and other indicia, already prepared, can be so placed at a certain location in the catalog to be mailed, that the address can be read from outside the wrapper. On the other hand, the customer 2 receiving the catalog has, forihis order, only the form which is already provided with his address. It is thus possible to identify the orderer, in all cases, even where, through oversight onother reasons, he ha'snot given his ordering. address. p I

The mailing container consists eitherof a single film folded in half or' of two films laid one above the other. The catalog is placed between the folded portions of the single film or between the two films. According to whether a single folded film or two separate films are used as the walls of the container, there are three or four edges to be sealed by flame weldingor impulse (impact) welding; According to'all experience, this kindof seal- ;mg or welding is unusually strong mechanically, so that even under severeshipping conditions, no tearing of the mailing wrapper can occur. Toadvantag'e,one side of the marlmgwrapper, for example,that bearing thetransparent area for-the address, is provided with m'o're sur-.

face which can be written upon, for any delivery indications, address change or the like of the receiver of the catalog, or to make possible the return of the catalog to the firm which mailed it.

Ifprinted matter exclusively, in the of postal specifications, is to be mailed with the aid of this new kind of mailing container, then provision must be made so that the post oflice can verify at any time that its specifications are being observed. For this reason, places of proper size must be provided on the edge to make possible an inspection of the contents. These places may be arranged on the longer or shorter edge of the contamer or on two opposite edges.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the application, and in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view .of one form of the container embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, on an enldarged scale, of a portion of the container of FIG. 1, an

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. modification of the container.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the container is seen to comprise films 1 and 4, between which is laid the catalog or printed matter 15 to be mailed. The film 1 is provided with a coating material, as previously described, leaving free or uncoated an area 2 (which may be framed) for the address. Reference numeral 3 designates a special area which may be used to receive delivery indications, changes in address, and the like. The films 1 and 4 are welded to each other, as along the seams 5, 6, 7 and 8, either by impulse (pressure) welding or by flame welding. These two kinds of sealing may be used alternatively, when desired. There results thus, as shown in FIG. 2, a welded seam 16. Through impulse welding, the seam 16 may be formed flat, as shown. The edges of the films are preferably drawn tight, as shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 3, .a modification is shown, which is used in cases where the contents of the container must be inspected or verified in observance of postal regulations.

1, but showing a In this form of the container, openings 13 and 14 are formed in the filmsat the two narrow edges of the container. However, a single opening may be used, if

. Patented June 16,1964

spaces 2 and 3 are provided, for the same purposes as in FIG. 1.

As previously stated, the container may assume another form, which it is unnecessary to illustrate, but which consists of a singlefilm folded in half, and between the folded portions of which the catalog is placed. In this case, it is unnecessary to weld along the fold, which would normally be located next to the binding of the catalog. Thus, there would only be the two narrow edges and one of the longer edges to be welded, in the manner described, The container, in such case, would also be provided with the features described in connection with the other two forms, including the areas 2 and 3, and the openings 13 and 14.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention, herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In combination with printed matter or the like which is to be mailed, a wrapper for said printed matter, said wrapper consisting of films of a plastic selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, cellophane, polyvinyl chloride, styrene, and polyvinyl alcohol, said films being nated by reference numeral 16 in FIG.'2. Here, again, 7'

contiguousv with the printed faces of said printed matter and having marginal portions extending beyond the peripheral edges of said printed matter, said marginal portions extending in tension over said peripheral edges.

and joined in tight sealing engagement, the line of juncf ture lying closely adjacent to said printed matter and serving to maintain said tension, whereby the printed matter is snugly enclosed in said Wrapper and is maintained against shifting while in the wrapper, said plastic film having a substantially white coating material thereon, said coating providing a marking and Writing surface receptive to ink and imparting translucent properties to said film, whereby the printed matter within thewrapper may be discerned in outline through the wrapper, but

the printing cannot be read, areas of the film being left free of said coating material to provide windows, whereby address'or sending instructions inside-the wrapper may' be viewed and read through the wrapper. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wolinski Oct. 20, 1959 

